Running out of fuel proves fatal

What reportedly happened: The pilot added about five gallons of automotive gasoline to the airplane’s fuel tank before departing on a local flight. Witnesses saw the airplane flying at a low altitude when the engine lost power.

The plane struck power lines and crashed in an open field.

An examination of the airplane’s fuel lines revealed only a small amount of residual fuel. The fuel tank contained only residual fuel and was not breached.

Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.